The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-15

pointing 20 the guilt Of . certain
person are forced upon the attention
Of the jury, so as to Justify a verdict
against him, they hastily so find, and
t:,cu ,iisperse, leaving uninvestigated
many other facts then available,
which, if fixed upon definitely and
recorded would, with the other
leading facts, fix the proof of
the guilt of the accused.
Bat haste and impatience prevent
that full, thorough and satisfactory in
vest!gation so imperatively demanded
~ tie exigency Of the case aid the
cause of justice, in this, the first step
in tie criminal procedure.
OF course, | ain speaking Of the
prevailing car"iessness which cLarac-
terizas the methods Of conducting cor
oners' inquesis. There are, now and
then, notable exceptions TO this rule,
when tie coroner and his jury behave
n Il most praiseworthy manner, TAX
irg full time, exercising patience and
prudence, and leaving no available
testimony neglected. Such inquests
usually bring forth good fruit, re-
suiting in the detection and convic-
Lion Of the guilty one. Instead of
being the exception to the rule, such
acquisitions should constitute the rule
and periunctory ones be the excep-
ton.
The protection Of society requires
the greatest care, diligence and eff
cheney in the discharge Of this duty
by the coroner, because the proceed
ings Of his Court generally fix the
final result, or seriously affect it. The
solicitor, in nine out of every ten
case Of homicide tried in our Courts,
depends largely, if not entirely upon
the testimony furnished him by the
coroner. He has no other source
from which to draw, and no time
amidst his arduous labors to inquire
elsewhere. How important, essen
tial in fact, is it that he should have
placed at his disposal all available
evidence, and upon whom but the
coroner can he depend
Unfortunately, outside the county
Of Charleston, the Office is without
emo!ument, the compensation or in
come being necessarily so small as
TO afford no inducement to citizen
70 accept it. So much so is this the
cases that usuallyin nominations to
Office, and at elections. the candidate
is the object Of jokes and merriment,
anG accepts the Office merely "for the
fun of the thing" and to fill up the
ticket. Under the circumstances
efficiency cannot be expected, and
through inef6ciency ct inquests the
accused scores his first chance for
final triumph over the law.
In tie city and county Of Charles
ton, the coroner, with the aid Of ex-
perts and detectives, does efficient
work, being further stimulated to
activity and zeal by the income OF
his office; but the case is different
elsewhere in the State where there
are no detectives, and the coroner,
b. reason Of comparatively few in
quests. does not at all depend upon
his office for income, and is content
with hasty and inefficient work.
The attorney for the accused has
ordinarily little to fear from the tes,
timony furnished at the inquest, and
ihe Judge upon the bench, presiding
at trials for murder, cannot but be
painfully impressed with the injury
suffered by the State from want of
6 thorough investigation of the facts
Of the case at the inquest over the
dead body, where the event is recent
and the impressins fresh upon the
minds Of all witnesses. BY prompt
ness, care and thoroug! ness in get
thug all the facts on the spot, and
sitting the testimony of witnesses
then and there, the coroner can fore
stall the subseqent efforts Of the de.
fence to vary and peryert the evi
dence.
I must not be understood as st
tempting to lay upon the shoulders
Of our coroners the blame Of the &C
quittai Of murGerers. It would be
unjust and untruthful to cast tie
censure upon them, even in great
part. because other shoulders nus
bear the greater part of the blame
and this l will strive to show IS
progress in the examination Of oul
criminal law and procedure. Ny
purpose so far has been to show how
vitality important it is to be exceed
ingly careful and painstaking in the
;nqrisition by coroners, and how
carciessness in this, the first step ii